PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Davies (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ai Kage (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ryan Davies could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Ai Kage's chin.

Davies
vs
Kage

178 cm
21
163 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
22
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ryan Davies!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ai Kage!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Chris Downing and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Davies shoots in but no luck this time.
Davies fails to land the takedown.
Kage lands with a nice combination. Davies backs away looking to recover.
Davies fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ryan Davies. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Kage looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Kage drops an elbow to the side of Davies's head.
Kage blocks the strikes from Davies.

Kage is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Davies doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Kage.
Kage looks gassed!
Davies is looking for a sweep. Kage is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Davies regains full guard. Nicely done.
Davies is adopting a defensive guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kage wants to pass the guard but Davies is keeping the position.

Davies throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Kage stands and throws Davies's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Davies tries to bench press Kage off him but Kage keeps the position.

Kage thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Davies struggling a bit here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kage avoids the strikes from the bottom by Davies.

Kage is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Davies is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Davies is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Davies tries to strike but it doesn't land.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Davies tries for a takedown but Kage circles away easily
and Kage counters with a leg kick.
Davies shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Kage counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Davies is trying to get back to full guard.
Kage blocks the strikes from Davies.
Kage sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Kage is looking to take a break and control but Davies is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kage not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Davies pushes Kage off looking to stand but Kage dives back in and keeps control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Kage is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Davies defends it well.

Kage is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Davies has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Kage working over Davies with some ground and pound. Davies looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Kage wants to take a breather but Davies is having none of it.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Davies drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Davies connects with a couple of short punches.
Davies throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kage works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Davies wants to pass the guard but Kage is keeping the position.
Davies trying to control but Kage is working from the bottom.
Kage not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ai Kage dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Davies misses with a takedown attempt
and Kage counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Davies digs a good hook to Kage's body.
Davies rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kage moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Davies misses with a takedown
and Kage counters with a nice body kick.

Davies tries to keep at a distance but Kage has taken the fight into the clinch.

Kage breaks from the clinch.
Davies tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kage swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Davies shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
enabling Kage to counter with a crisp jab.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ryan Davies. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Kage bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Kage lands a nice forearm strike.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kage taking a breather here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Davies is trying to control Kage's posture but Kage avoids it.
Kage in side control, throwing shots but Davies defends.

Kage goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Davies rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Kage's guard! Nice work there by Davies!
Kage is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Davies postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Kage keeping moving, preventing Davies from controlling successfully.

Kage looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Davies has picked Kage up and slammed him! Kage can't keep hold of the triangle and Davies manages to pass to side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Davies tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Davies has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Kage takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Davies wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kage keeps working.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kage manages to get back to half guard.
Davies throws a strike but Kage avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Kage throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Kage preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Davies is in close to Kage's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Davies postures up in Kage's guard and throws a big left but Kage blocks it.
Kage keeping moving, preventing Davies from controlling successfully.
Davies is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Kage is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Davies works over Kage with some ground and pound from guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Davies fails with the takedown

and Kage counters by clinching up.
Davies is pressed up against the cage. Kage has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Davies down to the mat. Davies avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Davies tries for a takedown but Kage circles away easily

and Kage counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Kage wants to control from the top but Davies keeps moving.
Kage sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kage trying to control the position from guard on top but Davies is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Davies working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kage doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kage manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Kage drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Kage jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Kage works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Kage is trying to control the action in half guard but Davies is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Davies is pressing down on Kage's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Davies keeping full guard, as Kage tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ai Kage showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Davies avoids a punch combination nicely.
Davies tries to clinch up but Kage circles away and keeps his distance.
Davies keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.

Davies gets caught flat footed, as Kage shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Kage wants to control from the top but Davies keeps moving.

Davies working for a triangle but Kage defends it easily.

Davies is looking for a triangle but Kage pushes his legs off easily.
Kage trying to control the position from guard on top but Davies is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Davies preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Davies avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Davies uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Davies fails with the takedown

and Kage counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Davies's guard now.
Davies tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kage trying to control the position from guard on top but Davies is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kage content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kage drops back, looking for a kneebar! Davies looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Davies looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Davies!

Davies tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Davies has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Kage is looking for a sweep.
Kage throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
Davies trying to control the action but Kage is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Davies tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Davies has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Davies trying to control the position but Kage is working away.
Kage wants to control but Davies postures up.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
A combination from Kage does no damage.
Davies gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Kage counters with a nice leg kick.
Kage misses with the combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Davies fails with the takedown
and Kage counters with a lovely straight right hand!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ryan Davies. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kage wants to clinch.
Ryan Davies has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Davies tries for a takedown but Kage circles away easily
and Kage counters with a slapping leg kick.
Kage moves in looking to clinch but Davies pushes him off.
Ryan Davies seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Davies misses with a takedown attempt - Kage sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Kage fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Davies looks for a takedown but Kage sprawls well.
Kage wants to clinch but Davies slips to the side

and Davies counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Kage's guard now.
Ai Kage is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Kage had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Davies is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Kage Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Davies's back instead.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ryan Davies.
Well Kage has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 28:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ai Kage!